Witness Account
A certificated flight instructor who observed the landing sequence reported that the airplane porpoised three times upon touchdown. The pilot then aborted the landing, climbed to approximately 50 feet above ground level, and subsequently landed on the remaining runway without further incident.
Pilot's Report
According to a Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector who spoke with the pilot, the pilot stated that the airplane was "not stable" during the approach and that he should have aborted the landing. The pilot also noted that a crosswind condition "complicated his final approach," which was described as "too high." The hard landing resulted in substantial damage to the firewall.
Investigation Details
The pilot did not provide a statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge during a telephone interview. Although the pilot submitted an NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, it contained no narrative of the accident. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.